Mean Fruit Weight Research Articles

Evaluating the Efficacy of Different Manures in the Cultivation of Aubergine and Green Pepper – A Case study of the Maltese Islands

The Maltese agricultural sector faces many challenges including lack of organic matter in its soils. The use of organic fertilizers such as cattle or rabbit manure partly addresses this problem. Different doses of manure of rabbit and cattle manure at specific irrigation regimes were used to assess the growth of crops and production of fruit on aubergine and green pepper plants. The overall mean number of green peppers recorded was significantly different than the mean number of aubergine for all four doses of manure applied, using both rabbit and cattle manure, up to an optimum mean number of fruit produced, the optimum being reached at dose 3 for green peppers and dose 4 for aubergines. Additionally, the mean number of fruit was significantly higher when grown in rabbit than in cattle manure. The mean weight of fruit recorded varied significantly between green peppers and aubergines at the highest dose of rabbit manure. When Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) was investigated, the highest nutrient efficiencies were achieved at the higher fertilizer application rates of rabbit manure while for aubergines, the weight increase was not as significant and it may therefore be possible to compromise yield for a better efficiency.

Influence of the Plastic Cover on the Protection of Sweet Cherry Fruit Against Cracking, on the Microclimate under Cover and Fruit Quality

Abstract To study possibility of protection of sweet cherry fruit against cracking several rows of ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) trees grafted on ‘Colt’ rootstock, spaced 5 × 2.5 m and trained to a central leader were covered with a plastic foil to a height of 5 m. Several rows were left uncovered as a control. In the years 2016 and 2018, sun irradiation, air temperature and fruit quality were evaluated. The plastic cover reduced solar irradiation under the tunnel roof by around 40%. Light distribution within tree canopies was depleted by roughly 50%, but in the lower parts of the tree canopies, it was reduced to 6%, which is below the critical level (20%) estimated for apple trees. These results indicate the necessity to remove the covers as soon as possible after harvesting. Mean daily temperature near the ground was lower under the covers than outside, but at the height of 4.0 m, daily mean temperature was 0.4 °C higher and mean temperature during midday hours was 1.5 °C higher. The plastic covering reduced the fruit cracking from about 20% to 2% in both seasons but did not affect the fruit yield. The plastic covering did not affect the firmness and antioxidant activity and total anthocyanin content, but in the year 2018, it reduced the mean fruit weight, soluble solid, titratable acidity, dry matter and total polyphenols content.

Morphological variation of bael fruits (<em>Aegle marmelos</em> (L.) Corrêa) among five accessions in three different agro-ecological regions of Sri Lanka

Bael fruit pulp possesses delicious taste with pleasing aroma and exhibit important pharmacological attributes such as hepato-protective and anti-cancerous properties. Although, bael is popular among the general public, it is considered as an underutilized fruit species in Sri Lanka. The Fruit Research and Development Institute of Sri Lanka has identified five superior bael Accessions (Beheth Beli, Paragammana, Mawanella, Rambukkana and Polonnaruwa Supun) from diverse agro-ecological zones. In the present study, morphological diversity of the ripened fruits harvested from the five selected bael Accessions was investigated in three fruiting seasons in 2015-2017. The fruit weight, length, width, inner diameter, number of seeds, shell thickness, fruit color according to Munsell Color Chart, L*, a*, b*, Chroma and Hue angle were measured and the data were statistically analyzed. The mean fruit weight was significantly high in Polonnaruwa Supun (951.86 g) followed by Rambukkana (669.14 g) and Mawanella (310.70 g) (p<0.05). The accessions Beheth Beli and Paragammana had the lowest fruit sizes 138.29 g and 158.09 g, respectively (p<0.05). Mean number of seeds were lowest in Polonnaruwa Supun (20 per fruit) and highest in the accessions Mawanella (60.33) and Rambukkana (60 per fruit) (p<0.05). The growing season has no effect either on size of fruits or number of seeds present. Three clear clusters could be identified based on fruit size, in which Polonnaruwa Supun and Rambukkana with 83.2% similarity clustered together and Beheth Beli and Paragammana with 94.4% similarity clustered together. The accession Mawanella was separated from the rest. The shell colour was not variable among the five accessions however; flesh colour of Rambukkana was the darkest with the highest significant Chroma. The accession Polonnaruwa Supun could be considered as the best fruit type with the largest fruit size, least number of miniature seeds and appealing flesh colour for consumption as a fresh fruit, while Rambukkana fruits can be considered as the best for processing due to its flesh colour.

Impact of Within-Tree Organ Distances on Floral Induction and Fruit Growth in Apple Tree: Implication of Carbohydrate and Gibberellin Organ Contents.

In plants, organs are inter-dependent for growth and development. Here, we aimed to investigate the distance at which interaction between organs operates and the relative contribution of within-tree variation in carbohydrate and hormonal contents on floral induction and fruit growth, in a fruit tree case study. Manipulations of leaf and fruit numbers were performed in two years on “Golden delicious” apple trees, at the shoot or branch scale or one side of Y-shape trees. For each treatment, floral induction proportion and mean fruit weight were recorded. Gibberellins content in shoot apical meristems, photosynthesis, and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in organs were measured. Floral induction was promoted by leaf presence and fruit absence but was not associated with non-structural content in meristems. This suggests a combined action of promoting and inhibiting signals originating from leaves and fruit, and involving gibberellins. Nevertheless, these signals act at short distance only since leaf or fruit presence at long distances had no effect on floral induction. Conversely, fruit growth was affected by leaf presence even at long distances when sink demands were imbalanced within the tree, suggesting long distance transport of carbohydrates. We thus clarified the inter-dependence and distance effect among organs, therefore their degree of autonomy that appeared dependent on the process considered, floral induction or fruit growth.

EFFECT OF DN1 BACTERIAL STRAIN APPLIED BY DIFFERENT METHODS ON SOME MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRAWBERRY CV. SAN ANDREAS (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.)

There have been quite intensive studies on the use of Plant Growth-PromotingRhizobacteria (PGPR) in agriculture. Acidovorax facilis strain DN1 is one of thePGPR commonly used. The effect of DN1 bacterial strain on some morphologicalcharacteristics of strawberry cv. San Andreas was investigated. The DN1 bacterialstrain was applied via soil, leaf, and soil + leaf, for 3 months (once a month) tostrawberry plants. The DN1 spores were prepared with 0.2% boron, 10% cornstarch and distilled water. The bacterial solution was applied to plants at thefollowing day with a hand pump (to leaves; 50 cc) and graduated cylinder (250 cceach 5-liter pot). After 3 treatments, plants removed from pots and data collected.According to the results, DN1 bacterial strain often had a positive effect on themorphological and fruit characteristics. Spraying treatment was the most effectiveway for the stem and root traits we evaluated (crown diameter: 36.87 mm; stemfresh weight: 63.64 g; leaf number: 38.69; root fresh weight: 34.89 g). In addition,soil + leaf treatment had a positive effect on mean fruit weight (23.57 g) and fruitdiameter (27.64 mm). The effect on other properties was also positive, but the rootlength (26.34 cm) was reduced in leaf treatment compared to the control (29.69cm). It is expected that the most effective treatment is the combined (leaf + soil)treatment, while the leaf treatment may be the most effective method on soils withboron toxicity.

Gas exchanges and production of West Indian cherry cultivated under saline water irrigation and nitrogen fertilization

West Indian cherry is of great socioeconomic importance to Brazil because of its potential to keep local workers in rural areas and generate income. It is mainly cultivated in the Northeast region, where high salt concentrations are common in water. This study was conducted to evaluate gas exchanges and production of West Indian cherry cultivar (cv.) ‘BRS 366 Jaburu’, as a function of irrigation with water of different salinity levels, and nitrogen fertilization, at the post-grafting stage. The experiment was carried out in pots adapted into drainage lysimeters, under greenhouse conditions in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replicates, using a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement in which the treatments corresponded to two levels of irrigation water electrical conductivity (ECw: 0.8 and 4.5 dS m-1) and four nitrogen doses (ND: 70, 85, 100, and 115% of the recommended dose). The 100% dose corresponded to 200 g of nitrogen per plant per year. Irrigation water electrical conductivity of 4.5 dS m-1 led to alterations in the gas exchanges and production components of West Indian cherry cv. ‘BRS 366 Jaburu’. An increase in intercellular CO2 concentration resulted in the occurrence of non-stomatal effects on the assimilation rate of CO2 under water salinity conditions of 4.5 dS m-1. The mean weight of West Indian cherry fruits was reduced when nitrogen doses were above 85% of the recommended level. Nitrogen doses above 70% of the recommended dose (140 g per plant) intensified the negative effects of salt stress on the total number and weight of West Indian cherry fruits.

Yield and Nutritional Quality of Vesuvian Piennolo Tomato PDO as Affected by Farming System and Biostimulant Application

Scientific investigations are being increasingly devoted to biostimulant effects on vegetable yield and quality, with the perspective of sustainable crop management. Two farming systems (conventional or organic) in factorial combination with two biostimulant treatments (tropical plant extract (PE); legume-derived protein hydrolysate (PH)) plus a non-treated control were compared in terms of tomato fruit yield, yield components, mineral composition, functional and nutritional indicators. PE- and PH-based biostimulants resulted in higher plant biomass, PH even in higher leaf area index, compared to non-treated control. Marketable yield was not significantly affected by farming system. PH and PE gave higher yield than non-treated control. PH treatment led to higher fruit number than the control, whereas PE incurred significant increase in yield only under organic farming. The mean fruit weight attained the highest value upon PE application under conventional management. Colour component a* (redness) was higher with the conventional system compared to the organic one, whereas an opposite trend was shown by the organic acids malate, oxalate and isocitrate. Irrespective of the farming system, the soluble solids, fruit brightness (L*) and redness as well as the target organic acids malate, oxalate, citrate and isocitrate were significantly higher than untreated plants by 10.1%, 16.1%, 19.8%, 18.9%, 12.1%, 13.5% and 26.8%, respectively, with no significant differences between the PH- and PE-based biostimulants. Higher lipophilic activity and total ascorbic acid concentration but lower lycopene were recorded under organic management. PE and PH application resulted in higher total phenol and ascorbic acid as well as in lycopene content, and lipophilic antioxidant activity than the non-treated control. Biostimulants proved to be an effective sustainable tool for enhancing tomato fruit yield and functional quality both under conventional and organic vegetable systems.

Raspberries and gooseberries in south Patagonia: Production, fruit quality, morphology and phenology in two environmental conditions

Fine fruits as raspberry and gooseberries represent the second production with the largest area cultivated in Santa Cruz province (Argentina), and this activity is usually carried out by family farmers in outdoor conditions. The availability of information about productive, morphologic, phenological and quality aspects of these crops in south Patagonia is very scarce. The aim of this work was to evaluate performance of Rubus idaeus cv. Autumn Bliss (RIA), R. idaeus cv. Glean ample (RIG), Ribes rubrum (RR), Ribes nigrum (RN) and Ribes uva crispa (RU) under two environments: outdoors and in greenhouse. An essay with a split plot design, with environment as the main plot and the species as a subplot, with three replicates, was established. Variables related to morphology, phenology, fruit production and fruit quality were measured. Significant differences were found in fruit production according to environment. At the third year, fruit production in greenhouse was 19.6, 130.7, 626.2, 693.1 and 1308.7 g plant−1 for RIG, RR, RN, RIA and RU, respectively. In the same year, production outdoors was 14.3, 80.5, 84.6, 90.7, 343.1 RIG, RN, RR, RIA and RU, respectively. Environment also affected individual fruit weight, being 1.79 g the mean fruit weight in greenhouse and 0.98 outdoors. Morphologic variables had a strong influence on fruit production, mainly on node number and foliar area. Results showed a 65% higher mean production efficiency of plants (gr fruits/m2 foliar area) in greenhouse compared with outdoor plants. In general, raspberries in outdoor condition decreased 90% in production efficiency, whereas gooseberries decreased 40%. In average, RIA were the most efficient plants throughout all the study period and RU had the highest efficiency during the last year of production. In conclusion, outdoor production of these species in South Patagonia is not recommended, because temperature and wind intensity severely affected plant performance. However, if outdoor condition is the only option, cultivate RU is the best option.

Nematicidal Effect of Some Botanical Extracts for the Management of Meloidogyne incognita and on Growth of Tomato

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important and widely grown vegetable crop all over the world. Although tomato is nutritionally and economically important, its production is constrained by biotic and abiotic constraints leading to poor marketable quantity and quality worldwide. Root-knot nematodes are one of the major pests affecting tomato production worldwide, especially, in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Green house experiments were laid out in Complete Block Design (CBD) with a 3x7 factorial arrangement replicated three times carried out at the Department of Crop and Environmental Protection, University of Agriculture. The soil was sterilized before the experiment. Fresh leaves and seeds of Moringa oleifera, Ricinus communis and Jatropha curcas were washed with tap water, 15 g from each of leaves and seeds of the different botanicals was macerated separately in an electric blender at high speed for 4 minutes in 100 ml distilled water. The mixtures were passed through a Whatman filter paper number 1; the filtrates of the leaves/seeds were then collected. Three tomato varieties viz: Roma Vf, Rio Grande and UC82B were inoculated with approximately 5,000 freshly hatched second stage juvenile of Meloidogyne incognita, two weeks after transplanting. Thirty percent aqueous extract each of Castor, Moringa and Jatropha leaves and seeds was used, while double distilled water (0%) served as the control. Thirty ml of each leaf and seed aqueous extract was applied, 48 hours after inoculation as soil drench. Application was done at 1 weeks intervals thereafter for a period of 16 weeks. Data collected include number of fruits per plant, root gall index, nematode reproductive factor, and final nematode population. The results showed that various Moringa oleifera, Ricinus communis and Jatropha curcas leaves and seed extracts significantly (P&lt;0.05) reduced root gall index, final population of M. incognita in the soil and nematode reproductive factor than the control. Application of the various treatments Moringa oleifera, Ricinus communis and Jatropha curcas led to significant increase in mean number of fruits and mean fruit weight yield of all the three tomato varieties. Therefore, the application of leaf and seed aqueous extracts of Moringa, Jatropha and Castor will serve as good alternative for the management of root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita.

Mycorrhizal frequency, physiological parameters, and yield of strawberry plants inoculated with endomycorrhizal fungi and rhizosphere bacteria

Due to the impoverishment of agricultural and horticultural soils and replant diseases, there is a need to use bioproducts and beneficial microorganisms in order to improve the quality of soils and growth substrates. For this reason, research was undertaken to assess the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizosphere bacteria on changes in soil microbiology, the degree of colonization of plant roots by mycorrhizal fungi, selected physiological parameters, and fruit quality and yield of the strawberry cultivar “Rumba.” The plants were inoculated with the mycorrhizal preparation Mykoflor (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae, Claroideoglomus etunicatum), MYC 800 (Rhizophagus intraradices), and the bacterial preparation Rhizocell C (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IT45). The applied preparations increased the total number of bacteria and fungi in the soil and mycorrhizal frequency in the roots of the strawberry plants. They increased the chlorophyll “a” and total chlorophyll concentrations in the leaves as well as the rate of transpiration and CO2 concentration in the intercellular spaces in the leaves. The plants treated with Rhizocell C and MYC 800 exhibited a higher CO2 assimilation rate than control plants. The biopreparations increased chlorophyll fluorescence parameters such as maximum fluorescence (FM) and the maximum potential photochemical reaction efficiency in PS II (FV/FM). The influence of the species of rhizosphere bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi used in the experiment on the physiological traits of strawberry plants contributed, especially in the second year of the study, to increase the yield and mean weight of strawberry fruit.

Pyraclostrobin can mitigate salinity stress in tomato crop

Processing tomato is a widespread crop in the Mediterranean area where often there are problems of high salinity of irrigation water with considerable harmful effects on yield. Pyraclostrobin is a strobilurin based fungicide (PBF) having a broad range of applications. Strobilurins are reported to have biostimulant effect on plant mitigating abiotic stress. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the ability of PBF to improve gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll, activity of antioxidative enzymes as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), yield characteristics, and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato under salinity.A two-year research was carried out in Southern Italy, on tomato cv Coronel grown in pots under plastic greenhouse, to compare two soil salinity levels (electrical conductivity, ECe = 1.1 and 5.4 dS m−1) in combination with or without PBF. As expected, salinity had harmful effects on physiological and biochemical parameters of tomato that in turn affected yield and WUE, but improved fruit quality. In fact, salinity reduced fruit mean weight (19.0%) and yield (21.4%), and increased fruit blossom-end rot (55.7%), total soluble solids (18.2%) and dry matter (18.5%) content. Overall, PBF increased leaf chlorophyll content (6.1%) and the activity of SOD, POD, CAT and APX, mainly under salinity. Moreover, it reduced stomatal conductance (12.5%) and transpiration (11.7%), but improved assimilation rate (7.8%) and intrinsic WUE (23.3%), that in turn increased yield (8.1%) and yield WUE (6.5%). The improvement in yield produced by PBF was highest in salt stressed plants. In view of the positive effects of PBF, its use should be promoted in defence programs of tomato crop, above all in areas with salinity problems.

Sampling Apple Trees to Accurately Estimate Mean Fruit Weight and Fruit Size Distribution

Canopies of ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ trees, trained to the vertical axis, were divided into eight vertical sections, each representing 12.5% of the tree canopy. The diameter of all ‘Gala’ fruit and fruit weight for all ‘Fuji’ fruit were recorded for each canopy section. Fruit size from most canopy sections was normally distributed and distributions were similar for most sections. Therefore, fruit size distribution for a tree can be estimated by harvesting fruit from two sections of a tree, representing 25% of the canopy. For small trees in intensive plantings, with canopy diameters less than 2.0 m, average fruit diameter or fruit weight estimated from all fruit collected from 25% of the canopy may provide estimates within 7% of the true value.

Sindy cherry tomato: A low potassium (K) demanding, high-quality and highly productive cultivar

Potassium (K) is one of the most abundant nutrient and has the greatest influence on fruit quality as it regulates the synthesis and translocation of photoassimilates in plants. K deficiency in tomato plants can compromise the quality and flavor of fruits. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of K doses on the production and quality of cherry tomato fruits in a hydroponic system. We cultivated the cherry tomato Hybrid Sindy for 120 days, from June to October, in an expanded clay sub irrigation system. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of increasing concentrations of K (6, 8, 10 and 12 mmol L-1) in the nutrient solution provided during the fructification period. It was evaluated production, mean weight of fruits and bunch, total soluble solids contents, titratable acidity, pH, and contents of lycopene, β-carotene, and a chlorophyll. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, boron, iron, zinc, and manganese were also determined in the fruits and in the third leaf above the fourth fruit bunch. Six mmol L-1 of K in the nutrient solution was enough to ensure the production and quality of the Sindy hybrid cherry tomato. Nevertheless, higher K doses improved the contents of the bioactive compounds lycopene and β -carotene in the fruits.

The effects of rain shelter coverings on the vegetative growth and fruit characteristics of Chinese cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.)

Throughout the whole process from the onset of blossoming to fruit maturity, rain and hail can cause severe losses in cherry (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl.) yields, e.g., up to 90%, under the conventional shelter-free (control) conditions in Southwest China. Recently, rain shelters have been increasingly applied worldwide to prevent flowers and fruit from damage by excessive rainfall and hail, and the utility of rain shelters was preliminarily proven to benefit cherry production due to yield improvements, especially in Southwest China. However, the effects of rain shelter coverings on the vegetative growth, photosynthesis and fruit characteristics of cherry have not yet been fully explored. In the present study, the 5-year-old field-grown plants were covered with polyethylene (PE) film from the preflowering stage until fruit harvested for one year (1a-shelter) or two years (2a-shelter) as part of trials in Guizhou Province, Southweste China. Compared with that under the control conditions, the leaf area under 1a- and 2a-shelter conditions significantly increased by 23.0% and 26.87%, respectively, at the 55 days after flowering (DAF) (DAF55); conversely, the leaf thickness clearly decreased by 17.67% and 19.7%, respectively. Similar trends in leaf area and thickness were also observed under the 2a-shelter, but no marked differences occurred between the 1a-shelter and 2a-shelter. Regardless of the covering cycle, the rain shelters somewhat promoted shoot elongation, although the differences were not statistically significant. Compared with the control, the 1a-shelter and 2a-shelter caused considerable increases in chlorophyll contents in the leaves. Interestingly, the rain shelters strongly increased the carotenoid (Cx) contents in the leaves under both the 1a- shelter and 2a-shelter, indicating an obvious improvement in the ability to use weak sunlight. Compared with those in the control, the diurnal fluctuations in the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of the leaves under both 1a- shelter and 2a-shelter characterized by a single peak; the Pn of the control exhibited a typical noon-slump pattern, which accordingly led to an increase in the total daily photosynthetic accumulation within the sheltered leaves. Compared with those in the control, the mean weight and size of fruit from plants under the shelters significantly increased, and the cracking rate greatly decreased from 95% (control) to approximately 4% (1a-shelter and 2a-shelter), giving rise to an approximately fourfold increase in yield of the sheltered trees. Furthermore, the contents of the total soluble solids (TSSs), soluble sugars (SSs), ascorbic acid (AsA) and anthocyanins of the sheltered fruit differentially increased; conversely, the rain shelters reduced the titratable acid (TA) titers. Therefore, rain shelter cultivation may substantially contribute to the total photosynthetic accumulation and increased fruit yield and has no obvious negative effects on the vegetative growth or fruit quality of cherry trees in Southwest China, which may benefit the cherry industry in this region.

APPLE TREES YIELDING AND FRUIT QUALITY DEPENDING ON THE CROP LOAD, BRANCH TYPE AND POSITION IN THE CROWN

The study was conducted from 2013 to 2015 on 10–13-year-old apple trees cv. ‘Szampion’ (M.9. rootstock) in experimental orchard of Department of Pomology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin. On the trees intensively flowering in 2013, the thinning treatments were performed as follows: thinning at the pink bud stage to the 50% of flower clusters leaving only a king flower in the remaining flower clusters; thinning at the pink bud stage to the 50% of flower clusters leaving only one lateral flower in the remaining flower clusters, thinning 4 weeks after full bloom to the 50% of fruit clusters leaving only a fruit from king flower in the remaining fruit clusters, thinning 4 weeks after full bloom to the 50% of fruit clusters leaving only one fruit from lateral flower in the remaining fruit clusters. Intensively flowering control trees in 2013 and poorly flowering trees in 2013 were left unthinned. The best results in terms of regularity of yielding and high-quality fruits after thinning at pink bud stage to king flower, were obtained. The largest fluctuations in yields were observed with the control tree that flowered poorly in the beginning of the study. It was found that the cultivar ‘Szampion’ is characterized by equal distribution of fruits in lower and middle parts of crown, however in the top of crown, the amount of fruits is significantly lower. Apples with the largest mean fruit weight were from spurs on wood older than two years. However the best flesh firmness, soluble solids and dry matter content was detected in fruits from brindles.

Morphological and chemical analysis of peach fruits in three different farming systems

This study aimed to access the commercial and the sensorial quality of the “flat peaches” variety grown in three farming systems: conventional and organic (“with compost” and “without compost”) in Gafsa, located at the south-west of Tunisia. Tests were performed on 18 and 22 ripe fruits randomly harvested at full maturity stage based on morphological and chemical traits according to peach descriptors and to some previous fruit analysis. Highly significant differences were noted between the three farming systems for some peach morphological characters. According to the peach descriptors, the organic peaches (“with compost” and “without compost”) had a good attractiveness (7) and very firm flesh (9) compared to the conventional ones (3 and 5, respectively). The highest mean fruit weight (89.3 g) was obtained in organic cropping system “with compost.” A significant difference between cropping systems was noted for the majority of chemical parameters. The juice percentage was higher in organic fruits (≥ 55.0%) than in conventional ones (> 43%). The soluble solids content and the total sugars were the highest in organic peaches “without compost” (13.5 and 11.8% Brix, respectively). In organic peaches “with compost,” the titrable acidity and the total acidity were high (73.5 meq/l of juice and 0.4%, respectively) and the ripening and the sweetness indexes were low (0.1 and 1.6, respectively). The increases in the titrable and total acidities were concomitant with a decrease in juice pH values. The titrable acidity was significantly and negatively correlated with the ripening index (r = − 1.0*). This latter was also significantly and positively linked to the sweetness index (r = 1.0*). The organically grown peaches exhibited the highest quality traits (attractive, firm, big, juicy, etc.). Peaches were acid when grown organically system “with compost” and sweet “without compost.” These results may incite more the Tunisian farmers to produce organic peach and to develop more this agricultural system in Tunisia.

Growth and production components of West Indian cherry cultivated with saline waters and potassium fertilization

ABSTRACT Due to water limitations in terms of both quantity and quality in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil, the use of waters with high concentrations of salts become necessary in irrigated agriculture. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the growth and production of grafted West Indian cherry under saline water irrigation and potassium fertilization. The experiment was carried out in drainage lysimeters under protected environment conditions, using a Regolithic Neosol with sandy loam texture. Treatments resulted from the combination of two levels of electrical conductivity - ECw (0.8 and 3.8 dS m-1) of irrigation water and four doses of potassium (50, 75, 100 and 125% of the recommendation of Musser), arranged in a randomized block design, with three replicates. Irrigation water salinity of 3.8 dS m-1 markedly inhibited the growth in stem diameter and mean fruit weight of West Indian cherry. Potassium fertilization mitigated the deleterious effects of salt stress on the relative growth in stem diameter of the rootstock, total number of fruits and total fresh mass of fruits of West Indian cherry, with highest values in plants irrigated with water of lowest level of salinity associated with the highest dose of K2O.

Aspects influencing the rootstock - scion performance during long term evaluation in pear orchard

During 1999–2016, the performance of ‘Red Bartlett’, ‘Conference’ and ‘Beurré Alexander Lucas’ grafted on four pear (Pyrus) rootstocks OH × F 69, OH × F 87, OH × F 230, OH × F 333 and on quince (Cydonia) rootstock BA 29 was evaluated at the RBIP Holovousy Ltd. For each combination, trunk cross-section area, cumulative yield, yield efficiency and mean fruit weight were assessed. The growth vigour of the scion cultivars on OH × F rootstocks was similar or slightly higher comparing to the growth on BA 29. Throughout the years, the growth vigor and productivity of the rootstock combinations may change. Less vigorous combinations of rootstock/scion were linked with higher yields in young trees, but usually with just moderate yields in later seasons. By contrast, combinations with higher growth vigour had usually higher yields in the later seasons. This balance is genotype specific, where aside of rootstock an important role is played by the scion cultivar vigour. The bearing precocity may be influenced by the cultivar as well. The results can vary with different climatic conditions and orchard management.

Response of healthy local tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) populations to grafting in organic farming

Demands for tomato local varieties are increasing worldwide, especially in organic farming mainly for their high sensory value and attractive appearance. This is the case of the “Moruno” tomato type, widely grown in the Mediterranean countries and greatly due to its highly appreciated organoleptic attributes but low yield or a short postharvest period. For this reason, the study aimed to assess if grafting of local “Moruno” populations (Mor-62, Mor-204) using commercial rootstocks (King-Kong F1, K; Multifort F1, M; Spirit F1, S) affects yield, fruit nutritional and functional composition, postharvest storage and consumer acceptance. Results showed differences between both populations, while rootstocks were only different for the glucose content and the flavour quality. Grafting improved the marketable yield (~43%), fruit number (~22%) and mean fruit weight (~12%), but had no incidence on the blossom-end rot disorder. This technique increased the carotenoid (lycopene, β-carotene and total carotene) content but decreased the organic acids (malic and citric) and sugar (fructose and glucose) rates, while ascorbic acid was not affected. The fruit postharvest storage was not practically modified. However, the overall flavour preference and visual appearance varied depending on the scion.

Evaluation of gynoecious cucumber (Cucumis sativus) hybrids for early-summer greenhouse production in western Indian arid plains

A great stride is witnessed in area expansion under protected cultivation, particularly in arid-western parts of India, where cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a predominant greenhouse crop. The early-summer crop of cucumber is highly remunerative owing to high prevailing market price. In current study, efforts were made to select suitable greenhouse cucumber hybrids for early season harvest under western Indian arid plains. Growth, yield and commercial quality traits of seven commercial gynoecious and parthenocarpic (seedless) cucumber hybrids were studied under greenhouse condition during 2015-16. Among the hybrids evaluated for early summer greenhouse production, Terminator was more precocious for fruit harvest (36 days after transplanting) followed by Rica and Dinamik. The per plant fruit yield was highest in Ekron (5.3 kg) followed by Terminator (4.2 kg). The vine length, leaf size and leaf dry weight were also found to be highest in Ekron, followed by Terminator. The fruit appearance, taste and texture, and overall consumer’s acceptability were also determined, which were found better in Rica, Terminator and Dinamik. Despite exhibiting highest production related traits, Ekron measured least score for sensory parameters, especially the fruit appearance due to presence of rudimentary spines on skin, and also the taste. Fruit pericarp thickness and dry matter content were significantly higher in Ekron but the values were at par with that recorded for Terminator and a few other hybrids. The character association analysis reveals that per plant fruit yield had significant positive correlation with vine length, leaf size, foliar (stem+leaf) dry mass and mean fruit weight. Based on targeted characters for earliness, fruit yield and commercial quality of evaluated hybrids, it is concluded that Terminator followed by Rica were highly suitable for early summer production under protected condition in western arid plains of India.